Female boxing promoters Hlengiwe Dladla, Zandile Malinga, and Nomvelo Magcaba recently hosted a Women-Only boxing tournament in Mooi River, KwaZulu-Natal, to raise awareness about gender-based violence. The event, which took place at Bruntville Hall, featured five bouts, including a provincial bantamweight title fight. The promoters, who jointly staged the tournament with the support of the KwaZulu-Natal government, wore purple to symbolize their stance against the killing of women.
The tournament, which was the second joint event staged by the three promoters, aimed to plead with men to support, respect, and protect women. Dladla, Malinga, and Magcaba emphasized that gender-based violence starts at home and that men need to intervene to stop it. They also highlighted the importance of providing critical support and resources for survivors to heal quickly.
Dladla, who runs the promotions company Hle Jobe, expressed her concerns about women's safety, saying that they should be able to walk freely without fear. Malinga, who stages boxing matches under Starline Boxing Promotions, noted that violence against women begins with small acts, such as slapping, and can escalate to more severe forms of abuse. Magcaba, a former professional boxer who promotes under Mvelo Boxing Promotions, emphasized the need for men to take a stand against gender-based violence.
The boxing event featured several matches, including a bantamweight title fight between Nonkululeko "Lelo" Mncube and Thema "Stone Cold" Zuma. Mncube emerged victorious, defeating Zuma in an eight-round fight that was scored in her favor by all three judges. The win marked Mncube's second victory against Zuma and kept her undefeated record intact.
In the main supporting bout, Molwazi "Smiling Assassin" Myingwa won the provincial middleweight title with a points victory over Noxolo "Bamboo Bee" Mkhasibe. Other notable matches included a fight between South African junior middleweight champion Nobengazi "Now You Know" Booth and Zimbabwean Chiedza "Nikita" Hamakoma, which Booth lost by points.
The event also saw a surprise stoppage victory for Lumka "Mancane" Ntobela over Lethokuhle "Danone" Sibisi in the first round of their scheduled six rounds. The tournament was officiated by all female ring officials, including ring announcer Nompilo Mahaye. The event aimed to promote women's empowerment and raise awareness about the importance of protecting women from violence.
The promoters' efforts to raise awareness about gender-based violence were well-received by the community, with many attendees showing their support for the cause. The event demonstrated the power of sports in promoting social change and highlighted the need for continued efforts to address the issue of gender-based violence in South Africa.
Key points
- The Women-Only boxing tournament aimed to raise awareness about gender-based violence and promote women's empowerment.
- The event featured several matches, including a provincial bantamweight title fight and a surprise stoppage victory.
- The promoters emphasized the need for men to take a stand against gender-based violence and support women's safety.
